June 17th, Bridgeport Park Project accepts bid approval

At Monday nights City Council meeting all council members were present. Russell Holland, Southern Engineering Solutions, recommended the council that they had three bidders for Bridgeport Park Phase 1 project. The bidders were Hill Brothers, Inc., Gillis Construction, Inc. and Double Diamond Construction Co., Inc. Hill Brothers, Inc. from Daphne was the low bidder with a bid of $351,992.50 and Holland recommended they accept this bid. This City has $340,000 for the project so they are still short $11,000. Mayor Creswell said there were a couple of items on the bid package that could be reduced but they would not know that until the project got underway. Creswell said that there was launch fee money that could be used to cover this difference if needed. Mayor Creswell told the council that Alabama Power has a Good Roots Program available. This $1,000 grant is for planting trees and must be applied for before July 31st. The grant is available to eligible groups which include: local governments (cities, towns, communities of any size, educational institutions) or city and county school systems, private schools, universities and any 501 (c)(3) organization. For more information and to apply contact Alabama Power or go online to Good Roots Grant Program. Mayor Creswell spoke with the council about a USDA proposal for Rural Business Development. He said that Nivory Gordon, Rixine Jackson and ATRC had been working on a 100% grant to assist a business in opening. Jackson is looking to relocate Jackson’s Fried Chicken to the old gas station across from TCNB. According to Creswell there is extensive repair needed to the slab under the current location. He said that one provision of the grant called for the equipment to belong to the city and Jackson would rent this equipment for 5 years. This brought about several questions and was tabled until the next meeting so that Frank Dobson from ATRC could be available to answer the questions. Creswell said there are grants available to help establish business in Rural America and is a way to relocate new business to the area. The council approved a grant resolution to submit application to ALDOT for new PAPI lights at the airport. This is a 90% FAA, 5% ALDOT and 5% city matching grant. The council approved. The council approved the Tax Revenue Enhancement Agreement for collecting business licenses and also a Resolution for Municipal Waste Water Pollution Prevention. The council also approved up to $4,000 to the police department to purchase a used engine for one of the police cars purchased from the City of Jackson. Sergeant McGraw asked the council to approve Officer See to drive the police car to and from work so that he could transfer the K9. Officer See has moved to the Yellow Bluff area which is outside the City limits. This item was table to the next meeting. Mayor Creswell said that the artist will be here this week to start painting the mural on the water tanks. The project is scheduled to be completed in four weeks. Approval was given to run water lines to provide water to Jean Pettway on Highway 41 South. Creswell said this was for water only and not sewage. The next City Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 1st at City Hall beginning at 6 p.m.